Beinfobcemeitt fob ige-cbeam tubs ob the like



L. ROMAN.

MENT FOR ICE CREAM PPLICATION FILED JAN.

REINFO LEWIS ROMAN, F AKRON, OHIO.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, LEWIS ROMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reinforcements for Ice-Cream Tubs or the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. 7

This-invention relates to reinforcements for ice cream tubs, or the like. In the form here shown the invention is a modification and improvement of the construction illustrated and described in my copending application for patent Ser. No. 371,885, filed April 5, 1920.

Tubs of this character, as is well known, receive hard usage, the bottoms and lower edges of the staves being flush are soon broken or otherwise damaged as a result of the heavy weight of their contents and the rough handling they receive. Such damage of the tubsaffects their appearance and depreciates their'value. In ice cream manufacturing establishments where any considerable number of tubs are used, the required maintenance resulting from the wear and tear on the tubs therefrom is a constant and'heavy source of expense. Furthermore, the leakage of'the tubs which usually develops in connection with the damaged bottoms, is very bothersome, being especially objectionable in establishments where the ice cream is delivered in the tubs and retailed direct therefrom.

The present invention provides for. correcting these difiiculties by reinforcing the lower endsof the staves and a portion of the bottom of the tub with metal, the particular construction here shown consisting of an integral piece of sheet metal having an upwardly extending flange adapted to be secured tothe lower end of the tub as a hoop,

and having a circular-or ring-shaped web or flange which extends over the lower ends of the staves and a considerable portion of the bottom of the tub. Thus the bottom of the tub will bereinforced with the metal and the tub will be better adapted to withstandthe tub during the interval that the cream is re- .tailed therefrom, thus furtherprotectlng the Specification of Letters Patent.

REINFORCEMENTFOR TOE-CREAM TUBS OR THE LIKE.

Patented May 17, 1921.

Application filedfanuary 22, 1921; Serial No. 439,240.

tub and tending to sanitation. The reinforcements being inexpensive, efiect a very The improvements of the present invention consist in a novel construction of the web portion of the reinforcement to simplify and cheapen production thereof as a manufactured article, and also to give greater strength and durability thereto as applied to ice cream tubs. The novel feature consists of folded or overlapping portions of the metal in a manner to effect a substantially fiat surface of the bottom as distinguished from the corrugated bottom of my earlier construction which forms the subject matter of my copending application for patent to which the above reference is made. 7

As shown in the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are plan views of-the improved reinforcement illustrating two forms of construction;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the construction shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig.4 is an enlarged detail view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

It has been found desirable in the use of the invention to provide the bottom flange portion of the reinforcementwith as much stiffness or rigidity as possible, and yet to use sheet metal of suitable gage for the forming operation involved in its manufacture, and at the same time to effect economy in the use of material. Thus the reinforcements are formed of an integral, rectangular-shaped piece of sheet metal, one edge being first bent upwardly substantially at a right angle to the body of the strip to form the hoop flange, the metal then being formed into a circular or ring-shaped pan of suitable dimensions to-fit the bottom and lower end of the tub. The ring formation of'the reinforcement will, as will be apparent, cause displacement of a portion of the metal to compensate for the bending of the metal, in order that the hoop portion may be smooth or evenly formed. "In the present construction the displaced metal is flattened and caused to, overlap the adjacent portions of metal,making in effect a hoop with a flat bottom for the tub. Thus the reinforcement is materially stiffened and is better adapted to its intended use. Any suitable machinery or devicesmay be employed in manufacturing the reinforcements, the successive steps of manufacturing consisting in cutting rectangular-shaped pieces of metal to required dimensions, in bending one of the sides of the metal strip upwardly, sub stantially at a right angle to the body of the strip to formthe hoop, and then in forming the bottom of the reinforcement as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings, the improved construction consists of an integral piece of metal comprising the hoop portion 1 adapted to it the lower outer end of an ice cream tub, and the bottom annular flange 2, extending inwardly from the hoop and adapted to cover the lower ends of the staves and a portion ofthe bottom of the tub. The metal displaced in forming the bottom is folded and flattened as indicated at 3, the construction consisting of an overlapping, compound fold extending radially from the hoop 1 to the inner edge of the bottom 2, the fold being drawn to a point or converging substantially at the point of uncture of the bottom with the hoop, and spreading outwardly toward the center. The reinforcement as a whole is adjustable diametrically to a limited extent by means of its overlapping adj acent ends 42 and 5, the ends being riveted together in the usual manner after the hoop has been fitted to a tub.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 4 only in the method of treating the displaced metal in forming the bottom of the reinforcement. As here shown the bottoms are slotted, in the first steps of construction, from their inner edge to the up turned flange or hoop 1,.thus forming a series of rectangular-shaped projections 6 ofthe metal which, as the reinforcements are formed into circular shape, are caused to overlap at. their adjacent edges as best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and indicated at 7 by dotted outline in Fig. .2. As here shown the overlapping portions of the metal are secured together, as indicated at 8, by spot welding, thus making the bottom stiffer and integral with the hoop.

From the foregoing detailed description the construction andapplication of the improved reinforcement will be readily understood. While the invention is of simple character, mechanically considered, it relates to an important and growing industry. Special machinery and fixtures are required for its manufacture and also for applying the reinforcements economically to ice cream tubs as a commercial practice. As far as I am aware, I am the first to discover the advantages of reinforcements of this character for ice cream tubs, and the first'to provide in my several inventions herein referred to a reinforcement in all respects suitable for these requirements and which can be manufactured and applied with more than the usual advantages and economies in a commercial enterprise of this character.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A reinforcement for ice cream tubs, comprising a hoop adapted to fit the lower portion of the tub, and an annular-shaped bottom, formed integrally with the hoop and having a plurality of overlapping portions of displaced metal extending radially from the hoop to the inner edge of said bottom.

2. A reinforcement for ice cream tubs, comprising a hoop adapted to fit the lower portion of the tub, and an annular-shaped bottom formed integrally with the hoop.

and having a plurality of overla ping portions of displaced metal each converging at a point adjacent the hoop and increasing in extent toward the inner edge of said bottom.

3. A reinforcement for ice cream tubs, comprising a hoop adapted to fit the lower portion of the tub, and an annular-shaped bottom comprising a plurality of separated portions of metal formed integrally with the hoop and having the edges of adjacent portions overlap.

41. A: reinforcement for ice cream tubs, comprising a hoop adapted to fit the lower portion ofthe tub, and an annular-shaped bottom comprising a plurality of separated portions of metal formed integrally with the hoop, extending inwardly therefrom, and having the edges of adjacent portions overlapped increasingly from the hoop to the inner edge of said bottom.

5. A reinforcement for ice cream tubs, comprising a hoop adapted to fit the lower portion of the tub, and an annular-shaped bottom comprising a plurality of portions of metal formed integrally with the hoop, extending inwardly therefrom and having the edges of adjacent portions overlapping and'welded one to another.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

LEWIS ROMAN. 

